I hate ties!

Former President Clinton liked his colorful and decorative. President Bush prefers red. Regis Philbin wants his to match his shirt. It is said that the Duke of Windsor has the largest collection in the world. And of course, Colonel Sanders wore the same black one, which became as much a part of his trademark as his mustache and goatee.

Ties have been made of every textile imaginable: silk, cotton, wool, rayon, lace, linen, rope, polyester, string, etc. They have been used to proclaim status, occupation, club membership, school affiliation, military rank, and to protect the neck and hide buttons. But whatever the material or use, I don’t like wearing them.

Maybe it’s my big neck. Maybe it is because I feel like I am choking. Perhaps it is because I always seem to be wearing a tie and white shirt when eating spaghetti. Oh, sure, it may look good, but it is uncomfortable. And in this day of business casual, I just prefer NOT to wear a tie unless I have no choice. Heck, I don’t even wear a tie to church anymore.

I just loathe ties.

All ties.

Fifteen years ago, the year when Arkansas gained admittance to the Southeastern Conference after spending decades in the AAA league Southwest Conference, they played the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. It was 1992 and it was Pat Dye’s last year as head coach of the Auburn Tigers. Joe Kines was the interim head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, taking over after Jack Crowe’s game 1 loss in the debacle with the Citadel.

Auburn’s James Bostic rushed for a career high 211 yards and two touchdowns that day. One of his touchdown runs was for 53 yards. Auburn outgained Arkansas 438 to 214 total yards. And on a day when they ran the ball up and down the field, Auburn remembered its greatest rusher of all time at the half. Bo Jackson was honored and his number 34 was retired that day. The day couldn’t have been any better for Auburn fans….or so we thought.

But this day belonged to the kickers. For all it’s abilities to run the ball, Auburn could only muster two touchdowns. Scott Etheridge kicked three field goals that day, including one at the three minute mark in the fourth quarter, to tie the Arkansas Razorbacks, 24-24. Arkansas kicked 4 field goals themselves, and returned an intercepted pass 85 yards for a touchdown. Pat Dye was quoted after the game as saying, “It eats my gut out to get a bunch of kids ready to play and get them to go out and play as hard as we can and not be able to enjoy a win, when we were supposed to win and when we should have won.”

And so, with no overtime in college football back in 1992, Auburn kissed it’s newest western cousin. A tie. 24 -24.

I hate ties.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSr